The White House was criticized for its "pathetic" and "shameful" statement regarding the deaths of Rachel Morin and Jocelyn Nungaray.
The Republicans urge the White House to take action on the border while the latter expresses condolences.
On Friday, the White House was criticized by Republicans for not acknowledging that Rachel Morin and Jocelyn Nungaray were allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in a pair of statements.
The White House issued statements offering "condolences" to the families of the victims, but declined to comment on ongoing law enforcement investigations. In each case, the White House emphasized that anyone found guilty of crimes should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
In August, a 37-year-old mother of five was brutally raped and murdered near a Maryland hiking trail. The suspect, a 23-year-old native of El Salvador who entered the U.S. illegally, was arrested earlier this month and is accused of the crime.
"The White House spokesperson conveyed their sincerest sympathies to Rachel Morin's family and loved ones on Tuesday. However, they cannot provide any information regarding ongoing legal investigations. Nonetheless, they maintain that individuals should be held responsible for their actions if proven guilty."
According to the Houston Police Department, two Venezuelan migrants, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are accused of strangling 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray to death in Houston on Monday.
On Friday, a White House spokesperson conveyed to NBC News their condolences to the family and loved ones of Jocelyn Nungaray.
""While we cannot comment on active law enforcement cases, anyone found guilty of such heinous and shocking crimes should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," the spokesperson stated."
The Biden administration's border policies were criticized by Republicans, who condemned the statements made days after each case became public.
"The Trump campaign accused Biden of being responsible for the brutal murders of Americans and the release of evil migrants into the country on Friday, via social media."
"Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala, condemned the killing of innocent people by illegal immigrants, stating that the @WhiteHouse continues to evade responsibility."
"Weak leadership is to blame for these senseless deaths," wrote Kim George, a GOP candidate for Congress in Arizona's 1st Congressional District. "Nothing can be said to change what happened, but the families deserve better. They deserve #justice."
The deaths of Morin and Nungaray, and the alleged murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant, have sparked GOP attacks on Biden's immigration policies. In response, the White House and Biden campaign have accused Republicans of jeopardizing border security after a bipartisan immigration bill failed in the Senate due to GOP opposition. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, reportedly urged his Senate allies to scuttle the deal.
The Biden campaign stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Donald Trump is endangering American safety by impeding the border agreement.
The House Committee on Homeland Security, controlled by the GOP, released an analysis on Friday that accused several Biden border policies of contributing to the recent tragedies.
The committee accused the White House and Department of Homeland Security of reversing several of Trump's policies, including reinstating catch-and-release and ending the requirement for asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their claims to be processed. Additionally, the committee stated that the administration has not requested the necessary funds to increase detention space or use the existing space authorized by Congress.
The bipartisan Senate deal would have allowed the suspected Venezuelan nationals to commit their alleged crimes by permitting them to enter the country if they were among the first 5,000 people encountered on any given day before a week of encounters recorded at that level, according to House Republicans.
Mark Green, R-Tenn., stated that his heart aches for the women and their families and loved ones affected by these tragedies, which could have been prevented if the Biden administration enforced the laws they promised to uphold. He emphasized that it is a straightforward matter.
"The sense of safety among Americans in their communities and neighborhoods has diminished. However, it does not have to be this way. Our committee will continue to work tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and hold the responsible public officials accountable for these incidents."
The president has announced multiple executive actions to reform America's immigration system amid criticism for his handling of the situation at the border.
Critics have criticized the recent action, announced on Tuesday, which provides a pathway to legal status for half a million undocumented spouses and family members of U.S. citizens, arguing that it will encourage more illegal crossings.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated that the president may view homeland security as a political tool, but Americans understand that the amnesty plan will only encourage more illegal immigration and put Americans at risk.
This report was contributed to by Michael Lee, Louis Casiano, Bill Melugin, and Griff Jenkins of Planet Chronicle Digital.
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